Fair partnering??

[amydice]

I just have a question about organizers.
There's a certain Craftster who I know swaps a lot. I also notice that whenever we're in swaps together, she ALWAYS gets partnered up with the organizer.
Now, personally, this particular crafter is really amazing, so I understand why people would want to be partnered up with her. However, is it really fair for organizers to just pair her with them all the time? I feel like other people don't get the chance to ever swap with her for that reason.
Personally, it just doesn't seem like partners are always paired up fairly.

[Puppy_girl]

i've only organized one swap, but i know that by the time you deal with allergy issues and people who only want to send w/in their own country, sometimes there aren't that many options left when it comes to pairing people up, esp. depending on the size of the swap.  then (depending on the swap) you also have to try to match people up based on what crafts they can do and what kind of things they want to receive.  sometimes things fall into place and work out nicely, but sometimes it's really hard to match people up well.  i'm not sure how other organizers do it, but i know when i organized i made sure everyone else got matched up first before figuring out my partner.  maybe in some cases it's favoritism or whatever, but i'm sure in others that it's just the way it worked out. 

[amydice]

I can understand all of that. However, this has literally been EVERY SWAP that she's in. It's just not a few, it's the majority of her swaps. It seems to me that it's more than just a coincidence, right?

[sweets4ever]

Great reasoning, Puppy!

Perhaps she specifically requests to be partnered with her organizer/particular people.  An organizer doesn't have to oblige, but you can always privately request to be partnered with someone (or not be partnered with someone).

[Annchen]

I also try to make sure all other pairs work before partnering myself if I'm organising, but I understand a few organisers like to pick their "favourite" first as a reward for organising. Ok, I've only heard one person say they do that, most seem to make things work first.

I've noticed that some swappers can have very specific requests or preferences that you might not see since you're not reading their form. Some people work best when given firm guidelines while others like to work with loose inspiration. For some the surprise is the most important thing and what they get is not so important. Others would rather NOT be too surprised. Pair those up wrong and you'll have two very unhappy swappers. There's nothing wrong with any of those swappers, but if you pair a "I'll love whatever you make" with a "Please give me a detailed wishlist", or a "Please try to make what I want and ask if in doubt" with an "Artistic freeeedoooooom!" they might not have as fun as if they got a better match. It might be something like that. Or allergies... Or chance...

If you'd like to swap with this person I'd suggest inviting them to a invite your partner swap! Can't hurt to ask, right? I have some secret craftster crushes that I will probably never swap with since I don't think I can make anything they'd want. Or since they're on the wrong continent...

[amydice]

Fortunately, I've been lucky enough to have a personal swap with this person. Because of that, I definitely understand why people would want to partner with her, considering she's an amazing crafter!
I just can't help but think that organizers might just be picking her since she is such a good crafter and definitely spoils. I understand that there could be other reasons, but I can't help but think otherwise.

[jungrrl]

Well, sometimes organizers will pick the partner they want, there's no rule against it.  If you organize you certainly can, too.

[A2JC4life]

I would be inclined not to partner myself with the really well-known, kick-butt crafters.  I would have swap anxiety like nobody's business! lol  No slight intended to anyone I have been partnered with - I've gotten some awesome swap packages.   But there are some Craftsters I just know are way out of my league before we even start.

[gavagai]

I agree with amydice that it really isn't fair if organizers keep partnering themself with great partners. I really didn't think they did (and even more considered it to be their right as organizers). That may just lead to what amydice says, that the really great craftsters (if you can make that distinction) just keep swapping within their own group, and I think the charm of craftster is the great variety of everything. Hopefully organizers in general think so too.

[tiffi_333]

I also agree, Im organizing my first swap now and I've been considering allergies, what crafts they do and the crafts they want before worrying about who my partner is. After you consider all that though, you do have to consider skill level...Ive found, with the swaps I've been in, and the ones I've observed, that the organizer tends to have more experience and time to craft. Their skill level might match up with them better than the other crafters in the swap. Id say that over half of the people in my swap has maybe one or two crafts posted on this site,and some have none. Theyve just posted enough times to be able to join swaps, which is ok, but it makes it hard to tell what their style is, or what they can really do. For all I know they could be amazing at their crafts, but I have no idea. It makes me feel like I should pair those people together, and the few that have more to see can get paired together alot easier...But that could make people feel like they couldve been partnered alot better. Its just hard to make everyone completely happy when they dont give you much information.   

[Annchen]

Hmm... Interesting. I try to ask myself "Will X enjoy crafting for Y?" Skill level plays a part in this, sure. But it's not always mad skills + mad skills or newb + newb that makes sense. My thinking can go "Ok, B is a newbie that can do these crafts, I must pair her with someone that wants what she's good at making and/or that is an awesome person that seems to love anything." In fact I avoid pairing newbies together unless they seem like an awesome match personality wise.

I also try to ask what kind of crafts people can do so I know for pairing. It makes everything sooo much easier to know.

[tiffi_333]

Im considering that as well, i mentioned that i consider skill level after the allergies, and the crafts they can do and the ones they want. if someone specifically says they want a crocheted doll and someone says they can make one of course i would pair them together...but after all that there isnt much else to use to pair them up. The swap im organizing now, alot of people dont have anything specific they want, a few do, but most dont, saying theyd like anything well thought out, and im sure all of them will be crafting well thought out items. Ive looked at the items theyve commented on in some cases to see what they like because they literally have nothing else for me to see so ive been recommending to some people to set up a wist to help.

[A2JC4life]

I also have noticed that it's helpful for me to know seemingly-irrelevant things.  Whether someone is a 20-something who lives along with her dog, a mid-thirties SAHM, or a grandmother in her sixties (or whatever else), for instance, helps gives me a sense of the person I'm crafting for and/or pairing up.

[amigurl55]

I partner my swappers 1) based on allergies/allergens, 2) based on whether or not they want to send out of country, and fianlly 3) similar interests.  Sometimes it turns out that no one wants to send out of country and you have someone in, say, Australia.  Therefore, being the organizer, you have to partner with the person from Australia because no one else will send out of country.  Stuff like that happens often.

I do understand your frustration, though.  Maybe next time you can ask to be partnered with said craftster.